Celebrity opening for new Blogg museum
20/03/2006
Comedian Ronnie Corbett is to open a new museum dedicated to the famous Cromer lifeboatman Henry Blogg on 12 April 2006. Blogg (right) is the most decorated RNLI lifeboatman ever and was a crew member for 53 years. He was coxswain of the Cromer lifeboat from 1909 to 1947 and carried out some 350 rescues, saving over 800 lives.
The Henry Blogg Museum, built in partnership by the RNLI and North Norfolk District Council, offers an in-depth look into Blogg’s life and lifeboating at the time he was a coxswain. The centrepiece is his motor lifeboat, the HF Bailey, which was used for some of the most dramatic rescues during World War II. There are plenty of fun and interactive exhibits for all ages, with an education room, a cafe, a souvenir shop and disabled access.
RNLI Project Manager Maureen La Frenais said: ‘This museum will ensure that the bravery and courage of Henry Blogg will be honoured for generations to come. It brings his story to life so the public can fully appreciate the man and his actions, especially when seeing the older technology that was available to lifeboatmen at the time.’
The museum will be managed by the RNLI’s Heritage Trust, which was set up in September 2004. RNLI Heritage Manager Joanna Bellis explained: ‘The RNLI Heritage Trust was set up as a subsidiary charity to enable the RNLI to focus on its collections and apply for lottery and other funding. Donations given to us for saving lives at sea have to be used for just that, so we needed another way to raise funds for the purposes of protecting the RNLI’s rich heritage.’
The RNLI has contributed £350,000 towards the £1.8M cost of the building, with the rest of the money from the Council and EU funding. A number of trusts, grants and local donations have enabled the fitting out.
Admission is free and opening hours are Tuesdays to Saturdays between 10am and 4pm in winter and 10am to 5pm during the summer months (July to September). Anyone wishing to book a visit should contact the museum on 01263 511294.
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